Dehorning instrument



Jan. 22, 1952 w J THOMPSON 2,583,347

DEHORNING INSTRUMENT Fil'ed July 16, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l IN V EN TOR.

WIY/fam T]? ompsorz Jan. 22, 1952 THOMPSON 2,583,347

DEHORNING INSTRUMENT Filed July 16, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Jam-22, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,583,347 nfiiioaififie INSTRUMENT William J. Thompson, Wichita Falls; Tex. Application July it, 1947, Serial 761,223

9 Claims:

This invention relates to improvements in instruinents for dehorning cattle and more par ticularly to an instrument so scientifically de signed as to materially reduce the mortality rate among cattle as a result of the dehorning op" eration.

With instruments in use heretoioreit has been impossible to gauge the depth of the incision properly and accurately, hence loss of blood has been excessive, and injury to the brain and nerve tissue fre uent; and as a result of the deh'orning operation, the mortality among cattle and calves has been high.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dehorning instrument that will reduce to a minimum the injury among cattle as a result of the dehorning operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dehorning instrument in which the depth of the incision can be gauged propeny and accurately' and which may be adapted for use on horns of various sizes. Y

With the present invention, the depth of the incision can be gaugedcarefully and accurately so that the horn may be removed with a minimum of daniage to the subcutaneous derma, to the epithelial cells and to the perio'steum, be'-' cause provision is made for guiding the in'strii ment, and for evenly distributing the pressure thereon.- v

An embodiment of this invention, together with amodification thereof, are illustrated in the ac companying drawingsin which;

Fig.- 1 is a perspective view instrument;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view thereof, with partsshown' in section and with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a fra mentary bottom plan View of the instrumentshowing the cutter blades; v

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but of a modified form of the dehorning instrument;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but of the modified form;

of the dehorning Fig, 6 is a fragmentary exploded sectional ill 2 members I in spaced relatior'iand at an angle to each other. A brace 3 is secured in bridging relation between the upper 'e'i'idsof the tubular frame members I, so as to hold them in a new unit.

The tubular frame members I are preferably flattened to receive elongated shafts 4; which shafts are adapted to slide freely within tubular frame members I, within the limits afiorded by stop pins 5 and the ends of the handles 6. Handles 6 are provided on the outer ends of shafts 4 to limit the inward movement thereoi, and a blade 1 is secured to the inner end of eah shaft.- These blades are so positioned on the shafts as to slide inward toward eaohother tine til they almost touch,- when the shafts are moved inward; as shown in Fig. 3.- The shafts may be moved outward until stop pin 5 engagesa notch 5 formed in a side'of each tubular frame memher" I. The ring 2 has a. substantially circular opening therein, and this ring is adapted to he slipped over the hor'n H, shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. The" hole in the ring 2 and the thickness ofsaid Ii-l'ig are deterniining factors in properly positioning the instrument so the horn may be severed and removed without damage to the periosteum and without causing" undue loss of blood. The lower side of the blade 1 is in substantially the same plane as the lower side of the shaft 4. The ends of the blades are rounded to converge into a point and are sharpened so as to sever the horn quickly and cleanly;

In the use of the form of the instrument as shown in Figs-.- 1 to 3, inclusive,- the ring 2' is fitted over the horn H, as shown in Fig; 2; which will guide the instrument to the proper" position on the horn and hold it that position for the deh'orning operation. With the ring properly positioned on the horn, pressure is then applied to the handles 6, which forces shafts 4- inward to drive the blades Tcarried thereby toward each other through the cutaneous derma; the sub= cutaneous derma, into the corniiie'd structure and into the periosteurh. Then; holding the instru 1 ment steady while the knives are projected in ward-,- the instrument is rotated a quarter turn, thus; quickly severing the horn with a of damage to the tiss es invowed and without causing excessive bleeding.

The instrument ma be constructed with rings of vari us-sizes, so that an" instrument may be had suitable to the various sizes and states or developin'ent of the" cattle to be de'ho'r'ned.

m the dehdifiing operation, it necessary to remove the cdfnified tissi'ie sothalt growth Will not recur, but the blood and nerve bearing tissues should be injured as little as possible, as excessive damage to these tissues may result in undue delay in recovery of the animals, or it may even cause death. The use of the present instrument reduces to a minimum the damage which results from the dehorning operation and therefore reduces to a minimum the mortality among cattle that results from the dehorning operation.

The inner diameter of the ring and the thickness thereof are important in positioning the instrument over the horn in exactly the proper position so that the horn may be removed without undue injury to the animal. I

In the form of the invention as shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, provision is made for detachable rings and detachable blades, so that a single instrument may be adapted for use on cattle of all sizes and ages. Also greater leverage may be had against the shafts so that the horns of older cattle, which are larger and harder than those of calves, can be quickly-and cleanly removed. The operation performed and the manner of performing it are substantially the same for both forms of the instrument.

The modified form of the invention provides a pair of flattened tubular elements I I, positioned at an angle and held together by means of a detachable ring I2, the lower ends of the tubular elements I I being detachably secured to the ring I2 on opposite sides thereof.

A brace bar I3 is secured to the upper ends of the frame elements II as by welding. In this form of the invention, the ring I 2 is made detachable, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. Rings of varying inner diameter and of varying thickness may be provided to meet the needs of the Work to be done. The detachable ring I2 has a lug In on one side thereof adapted to engage a socket IIa, which socket is positioned on the lower side of the tubular element II. On the opposite side of the detachable ring I2 is a lug I2b which is wedgeshaped and has a groove I20 across the lower side thereof, which groove is adapted to receive a ring I ID, as shown in Figs. and 6.

Each of the flattened tubular members I I carries an elongated shaft I4 which is fitted for sliding engagement within said tubular member. Each of the shafts has a slot Ida therein, which slot is adapted to receive the lever end I5 of the handle I6. A slot He is provided in each of the tubular members II, which slot is of suificient length to permit a limited swinging movement of the lever I5. Each lower end of each shaft is provided with a detachable knife I1. The inner end of each knife is in-set within a notch in the lower portion of its respective shaft I4 and each knife is held rigidly in place by screws I'Ia, as will best be seen in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive. The outer ends of the blades are formed and sharpened substantially as the blades of the form of the instrument described above, with the exception that they are detachably secured to their respective shafts, so that they may be readily and quickly removed for sharpening or replacement.

The handles I6 are pivoted at I6a so that a greater leverage may be exerted on the shafts I4 in order to force the blades II into the cornified tissue, should it be large and hard. I

In the operation of this instrument, a ring I2 of suitable diameter and thickness is selected and the lug I2a slipped into the socket Ila and the ring III) is inserted over lug I21) and moved upward along the wedge surface of the lug I2b until the ring engages a groove In so as to hold the 4 ring I2 in binding engagement with the flattened tubular elements I I. This method of attachment of the ring I2 to the tubular frame members to form a strong rigid structure, gives substantially the same instrument as is provided above, but the rings may be quickly interchanged to meet the needs of the particular operation, and the change requires no tools or equipment other than the hands of the operator.

When the correct ring has been selected and secured onto the frame elements, the ring is slipped over the horn H, as shown in Fig. 5, and the handles I6 pressed downward. This downward pressure will urge the knives I'I into the position shown in Fig. 5. Then by holding the handles in depressed position and turning the instrument through approximately ninety degrees, the horn H will be neatly and quickly severed, at the proper place to prevent undue injury to the animal, and to prevent excessive bleeding.

It will be appreciated that the present invention provides an instrument that is light in weight, convenient to handle, and positive in operation. The instrument is so designed as to be safe in the hands of the layman or inexperienced operator, so that the cattle may be dehorned efi'iciently, and quickly and with a minimum of injury and with a low mortality rate.

It is frequently neither possible nor expedient to have the dehorning operation performed by a veterinary surgeon, but with methods heretofore in use the operation has been hazardous for cattle and resulted in loss to the cattleman and to the nations food supply. The present invention has eliminated the hazards incident to the dehorning operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a rotatable instrument for removing the I horns from animals, a frame comprising a pair of guideways, a member intermediate said guideways for forming a gauge that at least partially encircles a horn, each of said guideways having a shaft slidably positioned therein, the inner end of each shaft carrying a sharpened blade, means connected to said shafts for urging said shafts inward independently of the rotation of said instrument to bring pressure against said blades and cause them to pierce said horn, said blades being end-pointed and sharpened on the converging sides of said pointed end, so that upon rotation of the instrument said horn will be completely severed while the shafts are in-pressed.

2. In a rotatable instrument for removing the horns from cattle, a frame comprising a pair of angularly disposed guideways, a gauge member intermediate said guideways and secured integral therewith, said gauge being substantially circular in outline and adapted to encircle said horn a gauged-distance from the base thereof, each of said guideways having a shaft slidably positioned therein, each of said shafts carrying a sharpened blade at the inner end thereof, means connected to said shafts for applying pressure thereto to urge said shafts and the blades carried thereby inward'independently of the rotation of said instrument against said horn so that said blades will penetrate said horn.

3. In a rotatable instrument for removing the horns from animals, a frame comprising a pair of angularly positioned guideways having a gauge member secured intermediate said guideways, said gauge being substantially circular in outline and adapted to encircle a horn and to fit snugly thereabout near the base thereof, each of said o guideways having a shaft slidably positioned therein, the inner end of each shaft carrying a blade, said blade being pointed at the end sharpened on the converging sides, means ccnnected to said shafts for exerting pressure there on to move said shafts longitudinally to urge said blades carried thereby inward inde endently of the rotation of said instrument against said horn so that said. horn Will be penetrated by said blades, said gauge bein of a predetermined thickness so as to space said blades a predeter mined distance from the skull of the animal to prevent permanent injury thereto.

. in a rotatable instrument for removing the horns from animals, a frame comprising a pair of angularly disposed tubular guideways having an intermediate gauge member secured to the inner ends thereof, said gauge member being adapted to encircle the horn of the animal, each of said guideways having a shaft slidably positioned therein, the inner end of each car rying a sharpened blade, means connected to said shafts for applying pressure thereto and to the blades carried thereby inward independently of the rotation of said instrument against said horn, so that said blades will penetrate said born, a bracing member bridging the outer of guideways, a handle positioned on the outer c ;l of each shaft for urging said shafts and blades carried therebyinward.

5. in a rotatable instrument for removing horns from animals, a frame comprising a pair of angularly disposed guideways, a gauge 1 ieinber disposed intermediate said guideways and removably secured to the inner ends thereof, each of said guideways having a slidable shaft positioned therein, the inner end of each shaft having a sharpened blade removably secured thereto independently of the rotation of said instrument, means secured to the outer ends of said shafts to which inward pressure may be applied to said shafts and to the blades carried thereby so that blades will penetrate said horn.

In a rotatable instrument for removing the horns from animals, a frame comprising a pair of angularly disposed guideways, a gauge dis posed intermediate said guideways and secured to the inner ends thereof, each guideway having a shaft slidably mounted therein, each shaft having a sharpened blade secured to the inner end thereof, a brace member bridging the outer ends of said guideways and having levers pivoted thereon, the inner ends of said levers being adapted to engage said shafts to impart inward sliding movement thereto and to the blades carried thereby when pressure is applied to the outer ends of said levers, said pressure applying means being independent of the rotation of said instrument.

'7. In a rotatable instrument for removing the horns from animals, a frame comprising a pair of angularly disposed guideways having a gauge member disposed intermediate the inner ends thereof and removably secured thereto, each of said guideways having a shaft slldably mounted therein, each of said shafts having a pointed 2 arpcned blade removably secured to the inner thereof, a brace member bridging the outer ends of said guideways, said brace member having levers pivoted thereon, the inner ends of said levers adapted to engage said shafts so sliding movement may be imparted to said shafts and to the blades carried thereby when pressure is applied to said levers, and stop means on said guideways for limiting the movement of said shafts, said pressure applying means being independent of the rotation of said instrument.

8. In an instrument for removing horns from animals, a gauge member for at least partially encirclin a horn, a pair of guide members secured to said gauge member, said guide members being substantially in opposed relation and each forming an acute exterior angle with respect to the base of said gauge member, a shaft mounted in interfitting relation with each of said guide members for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, and. carrying a sharpened blade on the inner end thereof, means connected to said shafts for urging said shafts and said blades inward to cause a piercing action of said blades into said horn.

9. In a rotatable instrument for removing horns from animals, a gauge member for at least 3 ":tially encircling a horn, a pair of guide memb secured to said gauge member, said guide members being substantially in opposed relation and each forming an acute exterior angle with respect to the base of said gauge member, a shaft mounted in interfitting relation with each of said guide members for longitudinal movement with respect thereto, and carrying a sharpened blade on the inner end thereof, means connected to said shafts for urging said shafts and said blades inward to cause a piercing action of said blades into said horn, said blades being end-pointed and forming a vertex with respect to a medial line on the upper surface of said shaft and being sharpened with respect to the lateral sides of said apex, so, upon rotation of the instrument in either direction, said horn will be severed by the iii-pressed blades.

WILLIAM J. THOMPSON.

REFERENCES GKTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

